The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (December 7) met the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Mr Daren Tang. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, and the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, also attended the meeting.

      Mr Lee welcomed the visit by Mr Tang and the high-level delegation from the WIPO to Hong Kong to attend the Business of Intellectual Property Asia Forum on December 7 and 8.

     The National 14th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong to develop into a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre. Mr Lee said that under the "one country, two systems" framework, Hong Kong thrives as an international hub for trade and finance, and is the only common law jurisdiction within the country.  As announced in the Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will leverage the institutional advantages of Hong Kong's legal and IP protection systems, and carry out a number of new measures including enhancing the IP legal regime, implementing the "patent box" tax incentive, planning for regulatory arrangements on patent agent services, and boosting the trading of local original works, with a view to strengthening Hong Kong's status as a regional IP trading centre.

     Mr Lee paid tribute to the WIPO for playing a crucial role in promoting and facilitating global IP development. He said that the HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close communication with the WIPO and explore more co-operation to promote IP development.

Ends/Thursday, December 7, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:30

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